For Brooklyn-based Xavier, Valentine’s Day means more than flower bouquets and Russell Stover Chocolates. Each year since 2007, the dance-soul artist has recorded a special song for the holiday, offering it for free on his website. 2011, however, might just be the most special Valentine’s Day yet: not only has Xavier recorded a new song (“The Makings of You”), he’s making all of the previous Valentine’s Day downloads available, gratis!
Historically, the Valentine’s Day songs not only enamor thousands of listeners, they take on a life of their own. Upon hearing “Baltimore” (2009), renowned fashion photographer Marc Baptiste asked to shoot a video especially for the song (to be released later in 2011). Mattie Safer, former bassist of The Rapture, also loved what he heard on past Valentine’s Day efforts and joined Xavier with Shaquanda Cocoa Mullatta (a.k.a. Andre Springer) on last year’s offering, “Don’t Let Me Down”. Xavier fans will have an opportunity to download both cuts, plus “Something About Us” and “Strawberry Blonde”, on a special site dedicated to the Valentine’s Day songs, accessible through Xavier’s website.
Recently, Xavier has been seen and heard in a variety of musical contexts. In addition to singing in the Bread & Puppet Theater’s opera The Return of Ulysses, he joined Grammy winner Lady Rizo at Joe’s Pub and performed with the Veveritse Brass Band. He also recorded with Prince’s New Power Generation and co-wrote songs with Del Marquis of Scissor Sisters.
On 14 February, however, Xavier’s honeyed voice will grace “The Makings of You”, a Curtis Mayfield cover whose combination of percussion, bass, strings, and clarinet will enchant both lovers and lovers of music alike. Quietly gripping and compulsively listenable, “The Makings of You” is a gift for the other 364 days of the year, too.